Two years removed from a 57-win season -- after which they dismissed coach George Karl and replaced him with Brian Shaw -- the Nuggets entered Sunday with a 20-38 record, meaning the playoffs are simply not happening.

As The Post's Christopher Dempsey points out, this is reminiscent of a 1998 moment in which then-Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Van Exel, joking (he says) about his team's impending Western Conference finals exit against (coincidentally) the Jazz, chanted in practice, "1-2-3 ... Cancun!" (Even more coincidentally, Van Exel the next season joined the Nuggets.)

The news shook the NBA on Tuesday night: Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the former NBA MVP who since has been afflicted by multiple injuries, once again needs surgery -- once again for a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Rose is liked throughout the league, meaning fellow players were quick to send their well wishes: